Rwanda secures warm-up matches ahead of Africa tourney

THE national Men’s Volleyball national team has secured three international matches which will keep them in good shape ahead of the FIVB Africa World Cup qualifiers set to be held in Cameroon.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Coach Paul Bitok wants to ensure that Rwanda qualifies to the FIVB World Volleyball Championship due in Poland next year. The New Times/File

THE national Men’s Volleyball national team has secured three international matches which will keep them in good shape ahead of the FIVB Africa World Cup qualifiers set to be held in Cameroon.

Rwanda will face Tunisia’s elite volleyball clubs namely; Esperance de Tunis, Etoile du Sportif du Sahel and S-fax ahead of the World Cup Qualifiers last round engagement.

According to head coach Paul Bitok, the national team will play these matches early next year on yet-to- be known dates before heading to Slovenia where they will camp until the Africa tournament starts either late January or early February.

"We need to prepare early for this tournament to be able to raise the level of the players. These warm-up matches are very vital and I believe they will be of great importance to the whole team ahead of the African tournament,” said the former Kenyan international player.

After reaching the final round of FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championship Zone five group Q qualifiers, Rwanda was drawn against hosts Cameroon, Algeria, Nigeria and Gabon, while Kenya which  finished as second runners up is in group of African champions Egypt, Botswana, Zambia and Cape Verde.

The final round, which will be played in either late January or early February 2014, will decide the top three teams that will represent Africa at the 2014 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships to be held in Poland.